It could have been a long day’s journey into night on June 28 when the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission gathered for its first hybrid meeting, a combination of in-person and remote-access attendance. Instead, some 16 cases were quickly handled.
Attending in-person in the Town Hall’s conference room were commissioners David Lawrence, John Jacobsen, Chapman Dickerson, and Chairman Mike King. Attending remotely was commissioner Trevor Francis.
There were eight Requests for Determination of Applicability, one Request to Amend a Notice of Intent, two new Notice of Intent petitions, and five NOI petitions that had previously been opened and then continued in what King called “the COVID protocol.” The protocol was established to provide abutters and others with interest in any NOI filing additional time to study documents and attend hearings given that not everyone could easily navigate remote-access meeting platforms.
Receiving Negative determinations of applicability on this night were: Charlene Dineen, 1 Nantucket Drive, for the construction of an above-ground pool within a 100-foot buffer zone; Henry Borda, 12 Linhares Avenue, for replacement of an existing foundation within the 100-foot buffer zone; Josh Ignacio, 5 Park Street, for the construction of an above-ground pool within the 100-foot bordering vegetated wetland; Michael Ward for the addition of 2 acres to an existing shellfish aquaculture operation off Nasketucket Bay State Park; Robert Field, 8 Whalers Way, for repairs to an existing septic system within a designated coastal storm flowage area; Mark Whalen, Birchwood Street lot 58, for tree removal; and David Kiernan, 14 North Street, to replace a single-story addition.
A request submitted by Malcolm Campbell, 8 Dyar Road, for an amendment to a previously conditioned NOI was approved with minor changes, and an RDA filed by Peter Annunziato, 11 Rock Street, was continued to July 12.
A Notice of Intent filed by Fred Larson, 2 Brandt Island Shores, for coastal nourishment was continued to July 12 pending a Department of Environment Protection file number and comments, as was 1 Brandt Island Shores, owned by Goodspeed, LLC, for a groundwater recharge basin repair.
Reopened and previously examined NOI hearings receiving conditions were filed by Jennifer Capobianco, 0 Angelica Avenue, for the construction of a new single-family house; Stephen Randon, 0 Randall Road, for the construction of a single-family home; and Donna Downey, trustee, 16 Water Street, for the removal of an existing boat ramp.
Alexander Bauer’s NOI was not reopened but continued to July 12 for the construction of a new single-family dwelling planned for 7 Nashawena Road.
Also continued to July 12 was the NOI filed by Randall Lane Solar, LLC.
In other matters, the commission discussed the vacancy created by the retirement of Conservation Agent Liz Leidhold and its growing concern that public matters brought before the commission may suffer delays in the absence of staffing. A drafted letter to the Select Board was discussed with member Jacobsen taking the lead. The commission discussed various stop-gap measures such as hiring a contract agent who could perform site visits. But King said contractors generally did not want to handle the associated paperwork. Leidhold’s last day is scheduled for July 20.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Conservation Commission is scheduled for July 12 at 6:30 pm.
Mattapoisett Conservation Commission
By Marilou Newell